Maharashtra Bent On Making Liquor

It seems that Maharashtra government is hell bent on making wine or liquor. After its ambitious and controversial scheme to make liquor from the foodgrains was mire into controversy, it is now considering proposals to make wine from wild berries (Karvand), found mainly in coastal Konkan region.

"We will positively consider any proposals to make wine from wild-berries and if possible... capital in the 1:9 ratio would be made available for the business," Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar informed the Legislative Council today.
The government's intention is to help farmers make profit, he said.

Only last week the state government announced in the Council it would consider a proposal for making liquor from jowar, cashew fruit, 'jamun' (java plum) and 'chikoo'. In an apparent reference to the row over production of liquor from foodgrains, Pawar said, these matters have been unnecessarily politicised.

In the past, the government even announced to make alcohol from bamboom shoots. “This will enable the Adivasis to earn extra money,” was the government’s contention.